Restoration of autonomy matters : Saifuddin Soz

Srinagar, Apr 13: Former Union Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz has said that not restoration of statehood but restoration of autonomy is important for the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, he said, “The J&K State was granted Internal Autonomy within the Constitution of India through the debate and discussion. The Centre’s agreement had been obtained through a democratic process. The debates on this crucial issue in the J&K Constituent Assembly and in the Lok Sabha bear a testimony to the fact of history.” He added that atleast, two debates; one in the J&K Constituent Assembly  on November 5, 1952 and the other in the Lok Sabha on August 24, 1952 bear witness to the fact that the question of internal autonomy to the J&K State was settled democratically on the said dates.